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Storage

Selling? Teamwork Makes the Sale

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Ever wonder what home stagers do? Or whether it makes a difference when you’re selling your home?
Recently, iCan Storage participated in “Take It or Leave It.” Directed at Realtors®, it combined the talents of several affiliate members of Bergen County’s RealSource Association of Realtors®, and was designed to show the difference that proper preparation makes in selling a home.
Our canvas was the home above. Enter Timeless Decor to stage and rearrange; POSSE Partners to organize, Photography by Sky to shoot the before-and-after, Booth Movers to professionally pack and move the furniture, iCan Storage to provide a storage container for the things the homeowner saves, and Sir Junk for the things the homeowner can dump. Voila – a house transformed.
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Before                                                                    …and after!
While the transformation was clear to see, many people wondered how junk removal works. We spoke with Sir Junk himself, Alex Stein, to get some answers.
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How does your service work?
SIR JUNK is a full-service junk removal company, which means that we come into our customers’ homes or businesses and take away whatever they need removed. Our price is based on how much volume the junk takes up in our truck and includes all of the loading, lifting and dumping. We also try to recycle and donate whenever possible.
Who uses your service and why?
A lot of people use our service when they are moving or downsizing and need to get rid of a bunch of “stuff” all at once. Other times our customers want to clean out certain rooms in their homes, whether it be a garage, attic or basement, just to clear up some space. While it’s possible to get rid of junk in a dumpster, our service includes the manpower and moving expertise which our customers appreciate. Plus, we are able to get the job done in a very timely manner, so our customers don’t have to deal with having a dumpster sitting in front of their home or business, creating an eyesore for the neighbors.
What is something about your line of work that people wouldn’t know?
A lot of people who haven’t used a junk removal service don’t really know all that junk removal entails. From the work of getting the furniture out of the house to how expensive things can be to dispose of, we want to educate our prospective customers so they understand why we offer such a great option. Some junk removal companies might offer lower prices, but might not come equipped with all the necessary licenses and insurances. We try to do things the right way, giving our customers the piece of mind that they are dealing with professionals, while still offering discounted prices.
What have you found as some of the major benefits of being a local (non-franchise) business?
We know the area very well and felt that we could offer a service that would resonate with the people of Bergen County, who want to deal with a provider that is both professional and cost effective. It is a huge benefit that we do not have to pay franchise fees. We offer the same service and have the same sized truck as some of our national competitors, but can pass those sasirvings directly to our customers in the form of lower prices, which are often 25% less than the franchises.
What are some of the challenges?
Despite our excellent service and prices, there is always the challenge of starting from square one and building a brand. I think we have a very compelling story, but need to connect with a customer base so when people are making the decision of getting junk removed, they know SIR JUNK will do a top notch job and offer substantial savings. Despite the challenge, SIR JUNK is up to the task!
Good story about your work?
While we always try to have an idea of what to expect at jobs, you never know exactly what you’re going to find and that’s part of the fun! One time we went to a job and the customer was getting rid of his sword collection. He had all of these replica swords that looked like something you’d see on “Game of Thrones.” It’s very cool to see things like that.

Crazy Weather We’re Having!

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First it’s freezing cold, then it warms up – only to chill right back down again. As all too many of our clients have discovered, this wreaks havoc on your pipes, but you don’t even know it until the weather warms up and the ice that broke your pipe starts to melt…and flood your home. Fortunately, there are wonderful restoration companies out there, from small independent business like Renew Restoration and AMH Restoration, to the big guys like Restoration 1, DKI Restoration, ServPro, Paul Davis Restoration, PuroClean, and NY Fire Water Mold just to mention a few, that get you cleaned up and back to normal. And that’s where portable storage containers come in: keeping your household items safe while the work is done.kleinimages_2016-01-26_59940
We’re happy to share this article adapted from our friends at moving.com that tells the many ways portable storage containers can help you through a disaster – and so much more. Enjoy!
Managing Home Emergencies with Moving Containers
Weather-related catastrophes were once relatively rare events, but these days local newscasts report a story almost nightly about some unfortunate family, neighborhood or city that’s suffered a tragic event caused by wild weather. Homes damaged by falling trees, neighborhoods evacuated because of wild fires, tornadoes ripping through towns, homes submerged after endless days of rain and other terrible events are becoming more and more common and because of these emergencies, a great number of people are often faced with recovering from a disaster. And one of their prime concerns when trying to recover from one of these devastating events is figuring out what to do with their salvageable belongings. This is one area where moving containers have become an invaluable solution.
In recent years, portable storage containers have expanded beyond their originally-intended use of helping people relocate. These secure storage containers are now often used before and after large-scale disaster situations to keep homeowners’ belongings safe by providing them with the storage space they need to salvage their lives.
Meanwhile, moving containers have also been used by government agencies to help deliver food and supplies to regions hit by disaster. Whether used as a makeshift health clinic or as a means to get fresh food and water to a devastated city, these portable storage containers offer a durable and practical solution.
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Personal Emergency Use of Storage Containers
Storage containers aren’t only used for large-scale disasters; they can also be a tremendous benefit to individuals, families and businesses suffering through an isolated incident. Such situations include recovering from a fire, flood damage or from a tree falling on the home or building. In these events, having a secure place to put your belongings is the key to protecting them from additional damage.
While these storage containers are certainly beneficial in emergency situations, in truth, there are many different scenarios where a homeowner may need the use of a portable storage unit besides helping them relocate. Common uses besides emergency relief and relocation include using the container to store furniture while the house is being fumigated against insects or rodents, using the storage container to help manage a divorce or simply using the container to store a room’s belongings while you renovate.
If you need a portable storage unit to help you manage a crisis in your life, simply contact iCan and arrange for us to drop off however many containers you are going to need. We will transport the moving containers directly to your home and place them wherever you instruct us to. Fill up the containers with your belongings and they’ll be safe and secure for as long as you need them to be.
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Once intended solely for relocation purposes, portable storage containers have now become an all-important life-saving and life-salvaging resource for helping people and communities recover from various natural and non-natural disasters. Of course, these containers still offer one of your best options for moving your belongings, so even if you’re not faced with recovering from a tragic event, you can still enjoy the benefits of these convenient containers when it comes time for you to relocate.

“WE’VE Got This” – The Future of Moving

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kleinimages_reducedUsing portable storage to move homes is a hybrid between complete DIY (renting that truck!) and full-service movers. We believe it’s the future of moving, and our guest blogger, Michael Johnson, the inventor of the Horizontal Lift system proudly used by iCan Storage, explains why.

Top Benefits of Using Portable Storage over a U-Haul™ Rental

If you are over the age of 35 and have ever moved to a new or different location, you have probably rented a U-Haul™ truck to move your household items. U-Haul™ started in 1945 and has been going strong ever since. Until now, the do-it-yourselfers haven’t had many options available to them other than a few other truck rental companies, like U-Haul™. Today, however, the mobile storage container industry gives that do-it-yourself market segment other options and more flexibility.

1. The Convenience of Mobile Storage: Let’s compare U-Haul™, or any other similar rental truck, to the mobile storage container option. For example, if you close on your old house and have to be out in a day and you already have a new house that is ready to move into, a U-Haul™ truck is not a bad option at all. But what if you have to be out of your old house at closing and your new house will not be ready for a couple of weeks or longer? With U-Haul™ or a similar rental truck, you will have to find a self-storage facility, unload the truck there, and in a couple of weeks or longer you will have to rent another truck, reload it, and take it to your new house to unload. In this situation, you will have loaded and unloaded the truck twice. With the mobile storage container industry, your move is far simpler and with fewer steps. You load the container once, store it at their facility until needed, and unload the container at your new destination. You have saved time, money, your back, and friendships – as only a really good friend would help you load and unload your furniture twice. A mobile storage container option is superior when time is not on your side and you need storage. The mobile storage container industry is also favorable in situations where you need temporary storage for newly purchased furnishings that you want to store while waiting to move into your new home, or, when you are putting your house on the market to sell and need to clear out some items to better market your house. Again, you load the storage container once, and unload it at your destination.ican packed

2. The Ease of Unloading a Mobile Storage Container: Another factor to consider when comparing a rental truck move to the mobile storage container industry is the ease of loading and unloading, and the actual delivery of your goods to their final destination. When moving with a rental truck, because the box is on the chassis of the truck and off the ground, there are usually ramps or steps involved in loading and unloading the truck. Of course, anytime you are moving heavy items up and down ramps or steps the possibility of an accident or injury increases, especially when you get tired. When moving using a mobile storage container, the storage container is set on the ground and all of your items are loaded at ground-level with no ramps or steps. This is easier on those carrying the household goods, and tremendously decreases the possibility of injury.
3. Finally, with a rental truck, getting your loaded truck to your destination is your responsibility. You are under the gun to get to your destination, unload the truck and get it back to the rental store before you get charged for another day. With a rental truck, time is money. On top of the stress of moving, now you are dealing with traffic, driving a vehicle you are not familiar or comfortable with, and the logistics of the move. The mobile storage container move is a much different scenario. The mobile storage company delivers the storage container to your home, you load it at your convenience and pace, call them to pick it up when loaded, and they deliver it to your new destination when you need it. A professional is handling the pick-up and delivery of your possessions and dealing with the vehicle, traffic, and logistics of your move. And, as an added bonus, they can even store your goods if needed.
Mobile Storage is the Future of Moving
We believe that mobile moving and storage will dominate the moving industry in the near future. While there might always be a U-Haul™ or other truck rental businesses, once people see the advantages of mobile storage containers, the moving industry landscape will change dramatically in favor of mobile storage. A mobile storage container is less work because you are loading a container once and unloading it once; is more convenient because the mobile storage container businesses offer storage at their facilities; is safer because the container is at ground-level with no ramps or steps; and finally, is less stressful because a professional driver is safely delivering your belongings to your new destination.

15 Ways to Expand Your Storage Space

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Whether you live in a large home or a small one, you may have come to the point where your precious possessions are possessing too much of your living space. The smaller the home, the greater a challenge it becomes to manage storage space without actually creating new space.

Here are 15 clever ways to create storage space in your home and take back your living space.  And if there’s still more to store… call iCan!

15 Ways to Expand Your Storage Space

Courtesy of FBD Insurance

Clutter Got You Swamped? You Need an iCan – and a POSSE

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We hear it all the time at iCan: you need to de-clutter (or pre-pack before marketing your house) and you don’t even know where to begin. We get it – they say that packing for a move requires 300,000 decisions. 300,000 decisions! You just might need a professional organizer. But how does that work? We talked with Jean Marie Herron of POSSE and got the scoop.Jean Marie

iCan: Can you explain exactly what POSSE is?

Jean Marie: POSSE is a residential organizing company. POSSE is actually an acronym for Professional Organizing Solutions Serving Everyone…Who Wants to Dwell, Sell or Move!

iCan: Who tends to call on your services?
JM: Most of POSSE’s clients are overwhelmed with the process and prospect of getting their houses de-cluttered and functional. Additionally, many Realtors® will call on our services while trying to help their client’s properly prepare their properties for Open Houses.

iCan: When you get an engagement, what’s the first thing you do – and what will it cost?
JM: POSSE starts off every new project with a Needs Assessment.  During this “Walk & Talk” the client’s goals, time frame and scope of project is determined and a package of organizing hours are discussed afterwards. Our price structure is simple: Needs Assessment $79 / Power Hours $295 /5-Session Package $1,425 /10-Session Package $2,700.

iCan: Do you do orgaiCannizing or other services for people who want to de-clutter but stay in their house?
JM: Yes, all the time. Many of our clients are not moving but want to “fall in love” with their home again. We always tell our clients that the faster they can make decisions, the quicker the progress. In a 3-hour organizing session know as our Power Hours, we can dramatically change a room.

iCan: How do you help people decide what to do with their stuff?iCan
JM: It all depends on what they want…are they trying to set up a home office, kitchen, garage, moving, doing a renovation, getting the home ready to “age in place”? If we know their goals for their spaces and places they want organized, everything becomes categorical such as donate, sell, belongs elsewhere, keep, shred, recycle, toss etc. I also always have my Decluttering Resource List available and we see what makes sense for their heartstrings and their pocketbook relative to letting go of their “stuff”.

iCan: And if they can’t…there’s always iCan!iCan

Put the GIVING in Thanksgiving

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With Thanksgiving right around the corner, our thoughts turn to our neighbors. We at iCan are feeling fortunate and grateful to our clients who have been part of our wonderful start, and want to share our good fortune.

In that spirit, iCan will donate canned foods to our local food pantry, People to People, for every iCan or iBin package rented in the month of November.

There are half a million reasons to use iCan for moving and storage, and a million more to use iBins for clean, green moving, and now you have one more: doing good for our neighbors.

Happy Thanksgiving from iCanHappy Thanksgiving, friends!

Boxes: Love ’em – or Leave ’em! Now You Can: Introducing iBins!

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We have a love-hate relationship with cardboard boxes. They’re an essential part of moving and let’s face it, sometimes they’re absolutely necessary, like for things that are going to stay boxed and put in basement or attic storage. Problem is, they’re horribly wasteful for the stuff we’re going to unpack right away (the average cardboard box is only reused once or twice before being thrown out). Packing tape is annoying when you have to constantly play “find the end,” and at the end of it all, even throwing the boxes away is irritating – breaking them down, stacking them and wrapping them for the recycling truck. There has to be a better way.

XLarge iBinAnd now there is. Introducing iBins from iCan Storage.Large iBins

iBins are large plastic storage boxes with interlocking lids that you rent, pack, move, and return. Price-wise, they blow cardboard away because we rent them cheap; convenience-wise, they’re great because the interlocking lids close without taping; packing-wise, they stack like Legos so they’re easy to put into an iCan; and best of all, you can save the earth at the same time.

iBins – yes, iCan. Because cardboard, well, just can’t.

Climate Controlled – Exactly WHAT Does That Mean?

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It’s the dog days of summer, the time when we are deeply grateful if we have air conditioning in our homes, and deeply aversive of going out into the humidity. But what about your stuff in storage? We’ve all seen it: self-storage and even portable storage places that advertise “climate controlled.” If you’re like me, you’d think that means air conditioned – but it ain’t necessarily so, and moreover, it ain’t necessarily necessary.

We did some homework and inquired with the folks who advertised “climate control” exactly what that meant. The answers ranged from “temperature monitored” to outright falsehoods (saying they had A/C when they didn’t – because then we checked with the landlord!), to my personal favorite, “climate controlled – by God!” Since the answers varied, we decided it’s more important to get to the point: is air conditioning necessary?

Short answer: no. We’ve spent the month of July carefully watching the temperature and humidity in our warehouse and no matter how hot it got outside (95 degrees with a “real feel” of 100), our warehouse stayed a comfy 85. More importantly, the hotter it got outside, the lower the humidity got in our warehouse. Already in the “COMFORTABLE” range when it was 75 degrees out, humidity dipped down into the “DRY” range when the weather warmed up. PERFECT.

Weather                             Temparature

And let’s face it, if you grew up in Queens, NY like me, your apartment NEVER went below 85 in the summer – plus you dealt with high humidity. Your stuff at iCan gets better treatment than a kid in Queens!

Bottom line: we keep your iCan in the comfortable range of 50-85 degrees with low humidity, without A/C. We’ll still tell you not to put your Picasso in an iCan, but the rest of your stuff is safe.

Stay cool, friends!

Self Storage or Portable Storage?

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We can probably all agree on one thing: we have too much stuff. That doesn’t mean it’s not valuable; it’s just too much to keep in one place. So do you find a self storage unit, or use an iCan? Consider the pros and cons of both.

Portable Storage

– Typically more cost-effective than renting a storage unit, storage containers like iCans are probably the cheapest real estate per square foot you can find.

– No need to rent and drive a big truck, load and unload it at a facility. The container comes to you.

 – Easy to load since it’s on the ground. No ramps to push couches up.

iCans

iCan delivery system gets into narrow driveways

Self-Storage

– If you’re planning to visit your items frequently, self-storage is for you; but make sure the hours of operation fit your needs.

When you’re ready to clear, iCan is there. Call us!

What Are Tie-Downs and Why Do I Need Them?

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Yes, iCan transports your container smoothly and levelly – but if there’s a hill anywhere between your house and our warehouse, at some point your iCan is going to be on a slant. That’s where tie-downs come in: they hook into D-rings inside the iCan and, when used properly, keep your items right where you put them. But how many do you need, where do you get them, and how do you use them?

You can always use ¼ nylon rope to loop through the D-rings and wrap around your boxes and furniture, and it’s probably the most cost-effective solution. Have at least 100’ on hand because, just as with cushioning materials, more is always better. Any home repair store has them by the mile, just find someone to measure out the length you need.

Your next option is a ratchet strap with hooks on both ends. The hooks slip neatly into the D-rings on the sides of the iCan (we’ve designed our iCans with 6-8 D-rings on each side) and the ratchets lock them down. Wetie downs recommend at least a 12 foot strap, which gives you the option of stretching them straight across the iCan to form a “wall,” or wrap them around your furniture that you’ve placed along the sides of your iCan to pull the furniture in tight. You’ll probably need between 4 and 8 tie-downs to keep things in place. iCan offers the option of renting or purchasing these essential items so there’s no need to start searching – we’ll bring them along with your iCan.

Now that’s a tight solution!

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CONTACT US

We move and store

135 North Route 9W
Congers, NY 10920

888-543-iCAN

(4226)

info@icanstorage.com

© 2019 iCan Storage